BMW M3
Posted by Tom Ford at 12:00AM on Friday 06 July, 2007 14 Comments
There will be criticism of the new BMW M3, but let's just get one thing out of the way right now so that we can all concentrate on the good stuff: this is one of the cars of 2007.
Why? Well, if you've got time, there's a technical list long enough to make you break a considerable sweat just to get your head around some of it. But, for the moment, let's just say that the new M3 feels like the people who made it, created it for themselves. And they like to drive. Not helm, or pilot, or control. Not words that seem to indicate a lack of involvement; drive. And that makes it bloody good fun.
Fun. Slightly scary fun, for sure, but the new M3 manages to be a mixture of the M5 (technically impressive but slightly aloof in its warp-speediness) and the M Coupe (which has been criticised for the exuberant way it handles corners). This is a good thing.
Now we have a mid-sized saloon that is aggressive enough to really put a smile on yer face. If the M5 is too digital and the M Coupe a touch too analogue (and therefore a bit tiring) for some, then the M3 is right slap bang in the middle. A perfect marketing delivery from BMW, if nothing else.
But it really is hard to keep my cynical face on when the M3 does what it does so beautifully. Prejudice against BMW? Fair enough. But if you get out of this car without at least one thing that blows your mind, you have no mind to blow.
Getting on for 420 horses from a 90-degree V8 that revs to 8,400rpm. Six-speed manual, adjustable suspension (boingy to slam-solid at the touch of a button), adjustable throttle mapping, diff, traction control - you name it, you've got it.
It looks fab with that huge bonnet bulge and vents, the flared arches, the subtle but aggressive styling - imagine it in black. That carbon roof is actually carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, but still cool even when you know that.
One thing's for sure, you won't be able to de-badge a 335i, stick some wing mirrors and wheels on and have a faux-M3 - everything but the doors, bonnet lid and glass is different. And you really see it. The 335i Coupe made me think it was a little too cool for school; the M3 is just about right. It looks fast without being all wings and slots.
The engine is the powerplant of the year, no question. And it's an engine that Ferrari would be proud to have made. A loud, razor-sharp unit that seems to rev for ever... and ever... and ever. Individual throttle butterflies that give the kind of response you usually only get in a racing car, coupled with that rev-range, mated to that noise which changes every incremental revolution - it's not a lump of metal, it's an event.
0-62 in under five, limited to 155mph - the numbers are impressive but not startling. The way it drives is the startling bit. It's a driver's car, but one that's easy to drive slowly.
If you're useless, you can drive an M3 fast; if you're brilliant, you'll be able to wring the M3 out and still be impressed. That is a very hard dichotomous trick to pull off, and its one of the few cars that does it successfully.
It will be too hard with the EDC (electronic damper control) set to 'Sport' on British roads, but you can tune each element to your taste. Personally, I seem to get on better with everything at max setting (steering, power, response etc), but the suspension on one of the less firm settings. A bit of body roll helps me communicate with the car. Basically, I can go a bit slower, and feel like I'm really nailing it.
But it does go fast. Very fast. Steering is ultra-precise, the turn-in sharp but not extreme. Grip seemed a bit lacking on certain bits of these dusty Spanish roads we've been testing on, but I was laughing so hard that I didn't really care. Brakes felt great, but we found that BMW had stuck race pads in preparation for a hammering, so I'm going to suspend judgement.
It's not perfect, though. I'm not overly keen on the manual gearbox (SMG comes later, according to the BMW brass) - it could be faster and less wobbly, which is a shame. I think a car with this much performance can justifiably have a more aggressive-feeling gearbox, but the legions of WAGs that buy them might disagree.
The interior is a bit boring, and the fuel consumption is bloody awful (on the mountain roads I managed less than 15mpg - but the engine is just so addictive). It also costs £51,000, which puts a whole lot of other dream-machinery in sight.
It is brilliant, though. And that, for once, is not too strong a word. Roll on the TG Awards, I'm voting BMW.
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14 Comments for "BMW M3"
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I am fortunate enough to have driven an M3 because I work for BMW. I personally don't like it and feel that it will never come close to Audi's RS4.
The Audi is a masterpiece and is the best-handling saloon around, while the M3 is just a little bit too much of the techno geek's car. Undeniably it's amazing to drive, but I don't like it.
I can honestly say the Audi RS4 is worth £4,000 more because in the twisty bits, it's four grand more car and the interior is second to none. It easily outclasses the M3.
Kris, I think you work for Audi, not BMW. Audis go fast but can't handle. Not with that engine always in front of the wheels.
A BMW worker voting for the RS4? That would be the biggest revolution in the history of mankind...
I am also fortunate that I drive an RS4, so I am also leaning towards Audi. But I doubt the new M3 will be anything less than amazing. People like BMW and Audi for their own reasons and there will always be drivers who think that oversteering is the only way you can get around a corner and therefore BMW is the best car in the world. I tend to disagree, of course, but then, who cares about what I think?
I find it very amusing that just a week before BMW let journalists drive the new M3, Audi decided to pull the plug on the RS4. Did a member of the Audi team get an early drive? They must have done as they seem to have run away with their tails between there legs.
Also, the new M3 looks fabulous. Would certainly have one over the new C63, as well.
Great car but twice the 135i price, think about it.
I own an RS4 and after spending a weekend throwing it round the Nurburgring, anyone saying they don't handle is talking utter ****!
I think each car has their own qualities and these will appeal to different people.
PS: I love BMWs as I own an M5 too.
Hoora, the jobbos and chavs of this world have a new vehicle!
I personally would have the Audi, based solely on the noise it makes; it sounds like god is growling at you. But if it came to the crunch, I would choose an AMG over either. I've been in a few and nothing compares to the feeling they give of limitless power. Forget the corners - get on a German autobahn in an AMG (E63 preferably) and let rip.
A proper head-to-head with M3/RS4/C63 will settle it in favour of the Mercedes. The article says nothing about iDrive?
A comment for Mark: I do work for BMW, not Audi, and have driven both cars. I can say, hand on heart, that the Audi handles far better than the M3. Yes, the engine is in front of the headlamps, but the 4wd system and suspension and the ride in the RS4 are amazing. Go drive an RS4 and you will see my point.
The Audi will happily eat the M3 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I'm afraid and happy to say.
I owned the old M3 for a year... great car, but then I drove an Evo 8... sold the M3 a week later.
I'd love to see a head-to-head comparing this new M3 to the previous generation.
I love my E46 and find the inline-6 glorious and smooth as butter. However, on track it suffers from gross understeer, at least with the stock rubber. Granted enthusiastic throttle application helps rotate but this is hardly the fast and smooth way around a track.
I wonder if this has changed with the new generation...
The M3 was always the best super-saloon ever and as is proved with new new one, it is still the top dog in this sector of the market. It sticks to M3 attributes: fast, good looking, sounds great and handles like a dream.
Nice but somewhere along the line BMW just lost me with that odd styling. Bring on the E30 M3 EVO.